Tie-clasp.



LE ROY G. HICKS TIE CLASP.

APPLIOATION TILED MAYZB, 1908.

91 5, 176. Patentd Mar. 16, 1909.

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LE ROY O. HICKS, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

TIE-CLASP.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented March 16, 1909.

Application filed May 28, 1908. Serial No. 435A96.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Ln ROY C. HICKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tie-Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements and consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the reference characters nnrked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several figures therein.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a view in per speotive of an improved tie-clasp in an open position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the clasp in a closed position. Fig. 3 is a central section of the clasp in closed position taken on the broken line 33 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view of the clasp similar to that shown in Fig. 1, with a tie or knot partially formed about the shank of one of the plates. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective showing the clasp in a closed position and clamped upon a tie or knot formed in a shoelace or similar article. i

The object of the invention. is to secure a tie or knot formed in a shoe-lace or the like in a lined and ornamental position, and pre vent the knot from accidentally untying.

The invention consists of two plates hinged together at one edge, and provided with means for detachably securing the opposite edges together, one plate being provided with a central aperture, and end clamping-surfaces, and the other plate with an attaching shank and yielding clamping arms adapted to cooperate with the clamp ing-surfaces on the apertured plate, substantially as hereinafter more fully described and subsequently pointed out in the claims.

The plates are preferably made of sheet metal, though it is not desired to be limited to such material.

As shown in the drawings, the plate, 1, is provided with a central aperture, 2, end clamping-surfaces, 3, clasp-hook, 4, and hinge-section, 5. The other plate is pro vided with a narrow shank, 6, clampingarms, 7, adapted to engage with the clamping-surfaces, 3, on the apertured plate when the two plates are clasped together in the clamping position, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and '5, and with the hinge-sections, S, and with the clasp-hook, 9, adapted to interlock with the hook, 4, on the apertured plate, and hold the plates in closed clamping position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the hinge-sections being secured together in the usual manner, as by pintle 10.

In attaching the tie-clasp to a tie or knot, a preferable method is to first tie a loose, or half, knot in the shoe-laces or the like, and then push the shank-plate under the knot, so that the laces will occupy the open slots, 12, with the laces beneath the arms, 7, and the hat knot resting on top of the shank, 6, as shown in Fig. 4. The half knot is then drawn up. tightly and completed in any manner desired, as by the double bow-knot shown in Fig. 5. The aperture plate is then swung over on to the knot or tie and clasped to the other plate, as seen in Fig. 5, with the bows, 20, and loose ends, 21, of the laces clamped between the yielding arms, 7, on the lower plate, and the clamping-surfaces, 3, on the upper or apertured plate, the central crossband, 22, being allowed to project up through the aperture, 2, in the upper plate. It will thus be seen that the relative positions of the bows, 20, and loose ends, 21, can be arranged in an ornamental manner, as desired, and securely clamped in such position so that the arrangement will not be disturbed. while in use. Furthermore, the knot cannot be accidentally untied while the clasp is in use. The tieclasp above described when so used affords a cheap and convenient means for arranging and securing the parts of the tie in fixed relation to each other and to the clasp, affording a neat and ornamental arrangement of clasp and tie.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tie-clasp for shoe-laces and the like, comprising two plates hinged one upon the other, one of such plates being provided with a pair of horizontal slots opening respectively at the opposite ends of the hinge and adapted to receive respectively a pair of shoe-laces or the like, a shank tapered between the slots toward its middle and a pair of horizontal clamping arms forming, respectively, the outer walls of the slots and adapted to bear respectively upon shoe-laces or the like and difierent parts of a knot uniting the laces interposed between such arms and the ends of the other plate, when the plates are closed, and means for detachably securing the plates in a clamping position upon parts of the knot formed in the laces.

2. In a tie-clasp, a pair of plates, one plate being provided With a comparatively narrow attaching shank tapered on its opposite sides from the hinge toward the middle of the plate, whereby the lace can be tied upon the shank and the plate firmly secured in a fixed position u on the parts to be laced, a pair of horizonta clamping arms located, respectively, on opposlte sides of the shank, and With a pair of tie-receiving slots located, respectively, between the shank and arms, the other plate having clamp-surfaces,

adapted to cooperate With the clamping arms, respectively, and hold different parts of the knot uniting the laces, in fixed relation to each other, and means for detachably securing such plates in clamping position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of May, 1908.

LE ROY C. HICKS. Witnesses GEO. A. MosHER, J. DONSBAOH. 

